Undergraduate Research Posters

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  Gender and Ethnic Differences in Sound Tolerance

  Nicole Concepcion and Rachel Wallace

  Gender and Ethnic Differences in Sound Tolerance

  Nicole Concepcion, Depts. of Psychology, Social Work, and Human Resource Management, and Rachel Wallace, M.S., Dept. of Psychology Graduate Student, with Dr. Scott Vrana, Dept. of Psychology

  Misophonia, hyperacusis, and tinnitus are related to decreased sound tolerance (DST). Misophonia is characterized as strong aversive reactions to specific sounds. Hyperacusis is a heightened sensitivity to certain sounds below the loudness sensitivity levels. Tinnitus is a condition that includes continuous ringing or buzzing in the ears. Current research has shown that misophonia symptoms have many commonalities with psychiatric diagnoses and these symptoms result in substantial functional disability and lower quality of life. In the growing literature, there are some questions that need to be answered. The questions sought to be answered in this study are: what is the prevalence of the DST conditions? Are there any significant ethnic and gender differences for those who endorse misophonia, hyperacusis, or tinnitus? Can these differences be corroborated by current health items, like anxiety? To answer these questions, a large scale survey (n= 1,200) was examined by conducting chi-square, independent samples t-test, and ANOVA analyses. The findings indicate there were significant gender and racial differences among hyperacusis and misophonia. Women reported more negative responses towards misophonia and hyperacusis. This is consistent with the past findings that women report higher anxiety. White participants endorsed all DST conditions more than any other group. These findings promote further research.

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  Economical Custom-Made 3D BioPrinter

  Lucas Craft

  Economical Custom-Made 3D BioPrinter

  Lucas Craft, Depts. of Electrical and Computer Engineering & Physics, with Dr. Daeha Joung, Dept. of Physics

  Bioprinters are used to extrude biomaterials that contain living cells to develop synthetic organ and tissue models. Being able to 3D bioprint these models allows us to build the small intricate structures that mimic complicated living organs. As of now, the technology is expensive, with the average bioprinter exceeding ten thousand dollars. The high price often makes this tool a high-risk investment for many biomedical companies and researchers who may want to use this technology for research. Fortunately, the components that make a bioprinter could become inexpensive, especially with the open-source environment 3D printers have become. Altering the firmware and mechanics of a 3D printer can be relatively simple. To make a cost-effective bioprinter, inexpensive 3D printer parts can be used to make the system necessary for bioprinting. For this system, a one-hundred-dollar 3D printer (Fused Deposition Modeling based) is used for the XYZ movement and machine control from the included motherboard. A holder was designed for two pipettes to replace the plastic extruder the inexpensive printer came with. The biomaterials (including cells and hydrogels) are extruded out of the pipettes using air pressure from an air compressor and controlled using thirty-dollar solenoids. To incorporate the pneumatic system with the 3D printer, the open-source firmware Marlin was altered to use a header file (.h file) called Baricuda, which was designed for extruding chocolate for elaborate candy sculptures. Baricuda is used for the extruding system of a bioprinter using air pressure control to push biomaterials through a pipette for extrusion. Another critical aspect of a bioprinter is maintaining the viability of the living cells, which needs to be at average body temperature (37 ℃). For this, an insulation chamber will be made to completely contain the 3D printer so that the heat from the bedplate is used to warm the whole system’s environment. A thermistor mounted at the top of the printer will be used to ensure the temperature is maintained. Overall, the cost for a bioprinter like this will be less than one-thousand-dollars, depending on the type of air compressor. Air compressor cost aside, the printer costs approximately three-hundred-dollars, making it far cheaper than the ones on the market today.

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  A Comparison of PTSD, AUD, and MDD Symptom Patterns in Different Trauma Types

  Elizabeth Crump

  A Comparison of PTSD, AUD, and MDD Symptom Patterns in Different Trauma Types

  Elizabeth Crump, Depts. of Biology and Sociology, with Dr. Kaitlin Bountress, Virginia Institute of Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics

  About 66% of college students have been exposed to a traumatic event (Read et al., 2011). Research thus far suggests that interpersonal trauma (IPT; e.g., physical or sexual abuse or assault) is linked to higher risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), variability in PTSD symptom cluster presentation, and comorbidities with substance use compared to accidental trauma (e.g., natural disaster, motor vehicle accident; Kessler et al. 1995; Kelley et al., 2009; Kilpatrick et al. 2000). There is little research investigating the role of trauma type in the expression of symptoms related to PTSD (both overall severity and symptom cluster presentation), Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), and Major Depression (MD) in a representative college population. The first aim of this study was to investigate the relation between trauma type (interpersonal and accidental trauma) and PTSD, AUD, and MD symptoms as well as PTSD symptom cluster presentation (avoidance, arousal, negative thoughts and emotions, and reexperiencing). We also sought to test in an exploratory manner whether there was an association between these symptoms and increased trauma type count (i.e., experiencing both IPT and accidental trauma). Results found that those with IPT exposure experienced the highest rate of all symptom outcomes (excluding MD symptoms and PTSD reexperiencing) and had significantly greater symptom severity as compared to the group with both IPT and accidental exposure. The findings suggest that greater intervention measures should be focused on those who experience IPT trauma due to the greater vulnerability to PTSD, Alcohol Use, and Depressive symptoms.

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  Resilience in Relation to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Coping Behaviors in Combat-exposed Veterans

  Abigale Dagher

  Resilience in Relation to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Coping Behaviors in Combat-exposed Veterans

  Abigale Dagher, Dept. of Psychology, with Dr. Christina Sheerin, Dept. of Psychology and Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, and Dr. Ananda Amstadter, Dept. of Psychology and Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics

  Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that can occur following a traumatic experience. Many veterans who are exposed to combat develop PTSD, yet many also show resilience following these stressors. Resilience can be defined as adaptive functioning in the face of stress or trauma. PTSD is often associated with less resilience while coping skills often increase resilience outcomes. However, it is less known whether the relationship is different across the different clusters of PTSD symptoms and different types of coping behaviors, which can be adaptive (e.g., social support) or maladaptive (e.g., drug use). Thus, this study aimed to investigate in a combat trauma-exposed veteran population 1) whether there was a difference in resilience scores as a function of PTSD status, 2) whether there was a different association with resilience by PTSD symptom cluster total severity score, and 3) which types of coping behaviors were more strongly related to resilience above and beyond PTSD symptoms. It was hypothesized that combat trauma-exposed veterans without PTSD would have greater resilience scores than those with PTSD, that the avoidance symptom cluster would be the strongest predictor of lower resilience in the veterans who have PTSD, and that coping subscales would be associated with higher resilience above and beyond PTSD status, but some coping subscales would be more strongly related to resilience than others. Following informed consent, participants (N=226, Mean age=30.48, 90.3% Male) were interviewed with a structured clinical interview (Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-IV; CAPS-IV) and then completed a large battery of self-report assessment measures, including the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE). A t-test analysis was run to determine if there is a difference between trauma-exposed veterans with and without PTSD. Those with PTSD had a significantly lower resilience score (M=30.16, SD=6.96) compared to those without PTSD (M=32.68, SD=4.54), t(174)=2.91, p=.004. Next, a regression analysis was run with each symptom cluster total score predicting resilience total score. Avoidance symptoms significantly predicted lower resilience, β=-.296, t=-2.397, p=.019, but not re-experiencing β=-.056, t=-.426, p=.672 or arousal symptoms β=.022, t=-.173, p=.863. Finally, significant COPE subscales from correlation analyses were included as predictors of resilience, covarying for total PTSD symptoms. Of the 14 coping skills examined, Positive reinterpretation and growth, Active coping, Turning to religion, and Acceptance were associated with greater resilience scores whereas Behavioral disengagement, and Focus on and venting of emotions were negatively associated with resilience scores (all ps < .01). In conclusion, all hypotheses were supported. Combat exposed veterans with PTSD had lower resilience scores than those without PTSD. Likewise, avoidance behaviors predicted higher resilience compared to the other symptom clusters, perhaps given the importance of avoidance for impacting daily functioning and maintaining symptoms. Finally, coping subscales were variably associated with resilience, suggesting that not all coping approaches are necessarily beneficial. Limitations of the study included self-report bias, little variability in resilience measure, and limited generalizability given the restricted sample demographics.

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  Vicarious Trauma Exposure and Its Effects on Mental Health among Adolescents and Adults: A Narrative Research Review

  Harrison Davis, Angel Whitfield, Sydney Judge, Bailee Beverly, Jenna Minter, Eryn DeLaney, and Chloe Walker

  Vicarious Trauma Exposure and Its Effects on Mental Health among Adolescents and Adults: A Narrative Research Review

  Harris Davis, Dept. of Psychology, Angel Whitfield, Sydney Judge, Bailee Beverly, Jenna Minter, Harrison Davis, and Eryn DeLaney and Chloe Walker, Dept. of Psychology Graduate Students, with Dr. Chelsea Williams, Dept. of Psychology

  A narrative research review was conducted to examine studies that have tested the relation between vicarious trauma (i.e., witnessing abuse of others; Trautmann, S., Reineboth, M., Trikojat, K., Richter, J., Hagenaars, M. A., Kanske, P., & Schäfer, J. (2018). and mental health in adolescents and young adults. Using psycinfo to find research conducted to date, this review indicated that there are various types of trauma that adolescents might be exposed to (e.g., domestic abuse, emotional abuse, and physical abuse) and various forms of mental health issues (e.g., post traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety) that might result from such trauma. (Erolin, K. S., Wieling, E., & Parra, R. E. A. (2014)., , Stowkowy, J., Goldstein, B. I., MacQueen, G., Wang, J., Kennedy, S. H., Bray, S., Lebel, C., & Addington, J. (2020). Findings from this review also suggest that there is a relation between varying types of traumatic exposure and several types of depressive symptoms (Monfort, E., Afzali M. H. (2015), Merza, K., Papp, G., & Szabó, I. K. (2015) and that there are more studies on adults than on adolescents. These effects will be discussed. Gaps in the literature will be referenced and potential future research directions will be acknowledged. In conclusion, this narrative research review emphasizes the importance of knowing the effects of vicarious trauma on adolescents and adults for preventative purposes.

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  WHAM: Wellness, Happiness, and Mindfulness: A Pilot Class at Open High School for the Translational Application of Well-being Education

  Emaan Dawood and Moorin Khan

  WHAM: Wellness, Happiness, and Mindfulness: A Pilot Class at Open High School for the Translational Application of Well-being Education

  Emaan Dawood, Depts. of Biology, Chemistry, & Spanish, and Moorin Khan, with Dr. Christy Tyndall, VCU Honors College

  The education of student well-being is desired as evidence-based positive psychology principles explain how humans can better succeed in life despite surmounting obstacles. Based on a VCU honors class titled “Flourishing,” which educates incoming freshmen about the science of health and wellness, a similar pilot class titled “WHAM: Wellness, Happiness, and Mindfulness,” implemented at Open High School, targets younger students. The goals for WHAM are to encourage high school students to build resilience through obstacles, develop strategies to promote well-being, and increase overall life satisfaction. An additional goal of the course is to learn more about which well-being principles are most helpful for high school students and why. The curriculum of WHAM was created with a focus on positive psychology principles and strategies that enhance well-being. Each class begins with discussion of a specific principle followed by an applied in-class activity of that principle. Covered principles included mindfulness, gratitude, stress and time management, physical health, meaning and engagement, relationships, and accomplishments. From student feedback and discussions, our pilot class has informally revealed that practicing well-being activities amongst high school-aged students promotes their relaxation and appreciation, indicating that the course effectively increases awareness of well-being practices. Therefore, our goal for the next session of WHAM will be to provide objective and formalized measurements of student well-being pre and post completion of the class. Measurements will be determined from surveys of evidence-based literature assessing different areas of well-being. The results will reveal how much students benefit from well-being education, help improve teaching methods, and provide insight for such a course being a standard in student education.

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  Using Asset Mapping to Identify Health Needs of a Latinx Population in Rural Virginia

  Sara Debab

  Using Asset Mapping to Identify Health Needs of a Latinx Population in Rural Virginia

  Sara Debab, Interdisciplinary Science, with Dina Tamar Garcia, Health Behavior & Policy, VCU School of Medicine

  According to the Virginia Department of Health, the Commonwealth’s Latinx population sees worse health outcomes compared to other ethnic groups in the state. Latinx living in rural areas of the state are of particular concern due to federally-recognized physician shortages and various social determinants that exacerbate the situation. We studied Galax, Virginia, a rural city in southwest Virginia that is more than 14% Latinx, a rarity in the Appalachian region. With the city ranking 130th out of 134 cities and counties in the state for health outcomes, an inquiry focused on identifying the health needs of Latinx in Galax was necessary to expand upon very limited data. Asset mapping was conducted to identify available resources that play a factor in the health of residents. Navigating and observing the city through walking and windshield tours allowed us to determine what resources and assets exist in the community that currently address health issues. Through this process we obtained various tangible sources of information that served to assist us in different ways: apart from deriving names of important contacts to conduct key informant interviews with, we obtained various tangible sources of information about available services by numerous government and private organizations. Consequently, we successfully identified the key community organizations and leaders to seek valuable insights from in future key informant interviews.

  Our ability to obtain updated and accurate assessments of available resources is evidence of the success of employing asset-mapping methods to identify health needs.

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  Assessing Sexual Differences with the Decision to Remain a Virgin

  Jessica Del Rossi

  Assessing Sexual Differences with the Decision to Remain a Virgin

  Jessica Del Rossi, Depts. of Biology and Sociology, with Dr. Claire Kimberly, Dept. of Internal Medicine, VCU School of Medicine

  In the transition to adulthood, the loss of virginity can be seen as an important step in personal development. The first sexual experience someone encounters is often memorable with a positive or negative interaction impacting sexual satisfaction and sexual communication in the future. People have different definitions of virginity which can lead to miscommunication in personal relationships, research and/or a therapy setting. People may remain a virgin till marriage due to religious convictions and gender differences. Data was collected from 531 adults through Qualtrics and included questions about demographics, definition of virginity, and sexual satisfaction/communication. Respondents included 62.9% of the people thought at one point in their life they would remain a virgin until marriage while 36.9% reported that they did not. Average responses for sexual communication and satisfaction were reviewed by whether or not the individual decided at some point to be a virgin and demographics. Notable gender differences were found with men who decided not to be a virgin at one point in their life having higher sexual communication when compared to women who had decided not to remain a virgin. However, women who decided to be a virgin at one point had higher sexual satisfaction later on when compared to men and women who did not decide to be a virgin at one point in their lives. In regards to interest in religion, people that stated that religion was unimportant and had not decided to be a virgin had higher sexual satisfaction later on then people who thought religion was important and had decided to be a virgin. The results have the potential to help people in research, education, and therapy. Specifically, it can supplement the knowledge about gender differences and religion when it comes to virginity loss and how it might impact current relationships.

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  The Impact of Acculturation on Help-Seeking and Mental Health Among Refugees in Minnesota

  Analynne Escobar

  The Impact of Acculturation on Help-Seeking and Mental Health Among Refugees in Minnesota

  Analynne Escobar, Depts. of Social Work and Psychology, with Dr. Hyojin Im, School of Social Work

  This study looks at how acculturation affects mental health and help seeking attitudes among refugees in Minnesota. There is a need to address high levels of acculturative stress, mental health, and a lack of trust with human services for this population. Secondary data was utilized from the University of Minnesota Survey of Housing Questionnaire, with those identifying as Librarian, Oromo, Karen, Hmong, and Somali, for this study. A Pearson’s Correlation test was used to measure the relationship between acculturation and mental health and an independent sample t-test was used to measure the mean difference between those who responded yes and those who responded no to language being a barrier to help seeking attitudes. There was a positive correlation between anxiety/ depression and acculturation (the longer a person stays in the U.S.). Language barrier was also a predictor of the lack to seek help from social service providers.

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  Advertising and Consumer Behaviors: Evaluating Microinfluencers on Social Media

  Julianne Eubanks

  Advertising and Consumer Behaviors: Evaluating Microinfluencers on Social Media

  Julianne Eubanks, Dept. of Psychology, with Dr. Jennifer Joy-Gaba, Dept. of Psychology

  In advertising, social media networks such as Instagram have become opportunities for brands to advertise their products. Celebrities, with their millions of followers, often serve as brand ambassadors. As well, smaller accounts with more niche, engaged followings referred to in this study as “micro-influencers” also endorse products. The current study aims to determine if participants will (1) perceive micro-influencers as more trustworthy and authentic than name-brand celebrities and if participants will (2) be more likely to purchase a product when advertised by a micro-influencer. Participants viewed advertisements posted by celebrities and micro-influencers. Participants then rated each image for 1) how trustworthy and likable the influencer/celebrity appears, 2) how often the influencer/celebrity uses the product and 3) how likely the participants are to buy the product. We hypothesized that participants will rate the micro-influencers as more trustworthy and authentic than celebrities; as a result, we hypothesized that participants will be more likely to want to purchase the products advertised by micro-influencers.

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  The Effect of Education on Knowledge of Dental Care and Hygiene in Adults

  Jenifer Euceda Nunez and Tatiana Kohlmann

  The Effect of Education on Knowledge of Dental Care and Hygiene in Adults

  Jenifer Euceda Nunez, Dept. of Homeland Security, with Dr. Sarah Raskin, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs

  Introduction: Dental care and hygiene are a common worry and often overlooked by adults. It is paid less attention to due to dental problems not occurring as often as other medical conditions and simply not having the sufficient knowledge. Individuals’ lack of knowledge on dental care and hygiene may reflect other educational gaps. This study assessed the relationship between educational attainment and knowledge of oral health among a sample of low-income immigrants served at a free clinic in Richmond, Virginia. Methods: Patients from Crossover HealthCare Ministry clinics were recruited to complete a survey about their oral health experiences, quality of life, and knowledge, such as names of certain areas in the mouth, and what factors can cause certain diseases. Oral health knowledge was assessed using the Comprehensive Measure of Oral Health Knowledge, a 25-question instrument that has been validated in English and Spanish. The research team entered study data into a secure online research survey system, REDCap; data was analyzed using SAS. Participant recruitment and data collection are still ongoing. Initial analysis focuses on descriptive statistics using means (M)/standard deviations (SDs) or frequencies/relative frequencies to assess differences in oral health knowledge across educational attainment, using t-tests for continuous variables and chi square test for categorical variables. Results: We expect to see more incorrect answers from the CMOHK in individuals with lower levels of educational background. Conclusions: This study aids in understanding educational impact on dental care. If lower educational levels are associated with lower oral health knowledge as measured by incorrect answers they will have on the CMOHK, intervention for this group would be salient.

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  Owner-Intruder Contests with Information Asymmetry

  Faheem Farooq, Jay Bisen, Manaeil Hasan, and Akhil Patel

  Owner-Intruder Contests with Information Asymmetry

  Faheem Farooq, Depts. of Biology and Chemistry, Jay Bisen, Manaeil Hasan, and Akhil Patel, with Dr. Jan Rychtar, Dept. of Mathematics and Discrete Mathematics, and Dr. Dewey T. Taylor, Dept. of Mathematics and Discrete Mathematics

  We consider kleptoparasitic interactions between two individuals - Owner and Intruder - and model the situation as a sequential game in an extensive form. Owner is in a possession of a valuable resource when it spots Intruder. Owner has to decide whether to defend the resource; if the Owner defends, the Intruder has to decide whether to fight with the Owner. The individuals may value the resource differently and we distinguish three information cases: (a) both individuals know resource values to both of them, (b) individuals know only their own valuation, (c) individuals do not know the value at all. We solve the game in all three cases. We find that it is typically beneficial for the individuals to know as much information as possible. However, we identify several scenarios where knowing less seems better. We also show that an individual may or may not benefit from their opponent knowing less. Finally, we consider the same kind of interactions but with the reversed order of decisions. We find that typically the individual initiating the interaction has an advantage. However, when individuals know only their own valuation and not the valuations to their opponents, it is sometimes better when the opponent initiates.

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  Physiology as a Mechanism Driving Early Fitness Responses in Cornus Florida

  Brendan Finnie and Jane Remfert

  Physiology as a Mechanism Driving Early Fitness Responses in Cornus Florida

  Brendan Finnie, Depts. of Biology and Chemistry, and Jane L. Remfert, Graduate Student in Integrative Life Sciences, with Dr. Rodney Dyer, VCU Center for Environmental Studies

  Urban encroachment into natural ecosystems can increase the chances cultivar gene escape from the urban environment into natural populations. Cultivar Cornus Florida, flowering dogwood, has been artificially selected for traits like larger floral displays, tolerance of high sunlight, and resistance to disease and occurs in close proximity to native populations. A common garden experiment was established to compare relative performance of cultivar and native seedlings in native shade conditions by measuring proxies for fitness. Additionally, physiological measurements were taken as a potential mechanism driving early differential fitness responses of seedlings. Light saturated photosynthesis was measured using a Li-Cor 6400 Portable Photosynthesis System, additionally, proxies for fitness like leaf area, height, stem diameter, and above and below ground biomass were collected. Image J was used to calculate leaf area from digital photos and linear mixed effects models were used to determine differences in plant traits between cultivar and native seedlings. Plant traits including above and below ground biomass were significantly larger in cultivar C. florida seedlings (AGB P = 0.019, BGB P = 0.005). There was a significant difference in leaf area (cm) from the leaf base to tip between cultivar and native seedlings (P < 0.001) but no significant differences were found in mean light saturated photosynthesis between native and cultivar C. florida seedlings (P = 0.792). The lack of differences in photosynthetic rate between native and cultivar C. florida seedlings does not support a physiological mechanism driving differential early fitness response. Differences in early fitness response indicate that cultivar C. florida can outperform native seedlings in a shaded understory environment. Thus, it is possible that cultivar genes that escape from urban areas could establish in native populations.

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  Bullet Wound Amputation

  Laura Flaherty

  Bullet Wound Amputation

  Laura Flaherty, Depts. of Anthropology and History, with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of Anthropology

  "The limbs of soldiers are in as much danger from the ardor of young surgeons as from the missiles of the enemy."

  -Surgeon Julian John Chisholm, 1864

  Civil War medicine was highly dependent on the profession and education of those practicing medicine on the battlefield. Throughout the states that were involved with the war are burial grounds of soldiers or partial remains post amputation. Are there indicators of differing probabilities of survival of amputees at field hospitals or (traditional) established hospitals? Were soldiers more likely to live through amputations only to later die from infection? The factors under consideration are: capabilities of surgeons and staff at the types of treatment locations, hygiene, infection, available treatment material, potential transfers from field to established hospitals, treatments, and the later disposal of limbs.

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  Figuring Out the Aztecs

  Milla Gardiola

  Figuring Out the Aztecs

  Milla Gardioloa, Dept. of Sociology, with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of Anthropology

  This project looks at various Mesoamerican artwork with a strong focus on Aztec figurines and sculptures. I take a closer look at the meaning behind the figurines and their importance to Aztec cultures. With religion being an important aspect in Mesoamerican culture, I explore a few Aztec deities and explain who they are and how they are worshiped in their everyday life. There is also a section of this project dedicated to modern figurines and sculptures with the intention to show the relation between the past and modern cultures.

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  Combination Therapies of Guadecitabine and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in a Murine Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Model

  Jamie-Jean Gilmer

  Combination Therapies of Guadecitabine and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in a Murine Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Model

  Jamie-Jean Gilmer, Depts. of Biology and Chemistry, with Dr. Sarah Golding, Dept. of Biology

  Triple-negative breast cancer (negative for estrogen and progesterone receptors and HER-2) currently carries a poor prognosis, and new treatment regimens are highly sought after. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of a next-generation DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, guadecitabine, alone and in combination with other agents for treating the murine E0771 medullary breast adenocarcinoma model. In vitro, we combined guadecitabine with trametinib, a MEK1/2 inhibitor, and observed suppressed E0771 tumor cell growth and a marked increase in MHC class I and PD-L1 expression. In vivo, we combined guadecitabine with immune checkpoint inhibitors, anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1, and the taxane, paclitaxel. Treatment with guadecitabine, paclitaxel, and anti-PD-1/L1 demonstrated effective inhibition of tumor growth, and treatment with guadecitabine, paclitaxel, and anti-PD-1 produced a moderate cure rate. Additionally, we investigated the effect of early vs delayed treatment in vivo with guadecitabine, especially when combined with anti-PD-1. We found that early treatment using guadecitabine showed significant initial tumor suppression in vivo, but tumor growth recovered soon after treatment ceased. Lastly, we studied the effects of guadecitabine on E0771 tumors in vivo when used in combination with adoptive cellular therapy (ACT) with tumor-sensitized T lymphocytes, and we found the combination to be highly effective, with a high cure rate.

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  3D Modeling of Pediatric Hearts with Congenital Defects

  Anthony Gonnella, Chris Schmehil, Uyen Trong, and Scott Gullquist

  3D Modeling of Pediatric Hearts with Congenital Defects

  Anthony Gonnella, Depts. of Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics, with Dr. Joao Soares, Depts. of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering

  Introduction: The anatomic complexity and variability of congenital heart disease (CHD) presents unique challenges in three dimensional visualizations between the multiple specialists that can be involved in surgical planning. Gold standard imaging (conventional 2 dimensional echocardiography) requires each team member mentally integrate multiple images to complete one’s own mental model. We hypothesize that 3D printed models improve preoperative planning and shared team understanding, Materials and Methods: Standard CT and MRI scans were performed on patients at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond (CHoR) as part of their standard of care. Anonymized DICOM files were segmented with 3D Slicer open-source software. Using the threshold by intensity and paintbrush tools, the blood cavities were modeled. Incorrect features in the automated segmentations were manually edited. Subsequently, the myocardium was segmented to obtain wall thickness and a virtual 3D model created. The digital models are then sliced at orientations that best highlighted each congenital defect and converted to an STL file for 3D printing. Results and Discussion: Our method confirms the feasibility of creating patient specific 3D printed models that not only integrated the anatomic complexity of a specific patient but also provide the managing team and the family a conceptually clear picture of the anatomy and a springboard to discuss planned surgery. One of the 3D-printed CHD models was presented at the Pediatric Cardiology Conference and was able to help guide the surgical team to plan and pick the most appropriate surgical procedure (with the highest likelihood of a positive outcome) among several different possibilities. Conclusion: Our 3D-printed models of CHD improved surgical understanding, perspective, and approach in one patient. This potentially improved the outcome of the surgery, reduced the child’s risks, minimized hospital costs, and hopefully eased some of the parent’s concerns. The use of 3D-printed models should be explored in other complex CHDs. In addition, it seems to be an extremely elucidative educational tool for the team.

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  Implementing HSR Infrastructure In The United States To Improve Sustainable Development

  Martin Gonzalez

  Implementing HSR Infrastructure In The United States To Improve Sustainable Development

  Martin Gonzalez, Dept. of Biology, with Dr. Sierra Beecher, Dept. of Biology

  The United States has a need to improve sustainable development, which impacts the economy, society, and environment. High speed rail (HSR) funding and infrastructure can help the United States become much more sustainable within cities and surrounding areas. However, the United States has been trailing behind other countries when it comes to supporting HSRs. (Chakrabarti and Foster, 2013) The funding appropriated to mass transit systems have been disproportionately allocated to other mass transportation infrastructures and maintenance; and particularly under funding to HSRs (Chakrabarti and Foster, 2013). Since there is a lack of interest in having HSRs in the United States, the research conducted is used to highlight the importance and benefits of having HSRs. Most studies that have been conducted in other countries explained the benefits from HSRs that impacted capital gain, societal statuses, or environmental factors; however, they never focused on all three sustainable development factors at the same time. The conclusions from the articles state that HSRs have produced overall improved capital gain to cities and nearby towns. (Bracaglia et al., 2020, Yang et al., 2019) They also have much less land use and CO2 emission, when compared to other mass transit systems; and have provided transportation convenience to surrounding areas outside the cities (D’Alfonso et al., 2016, Herala, 2003, Robertson 2016). With these findings the United States can implement either an HSR infrastructure program in the east coast or set up an agency that can oversee the infrastructure and maintenance of HSRs to confidently boost sustainable development benefits.

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  Language Skills of Children and Youth with Schizophrenia: A Meta-Analysis

  Laura Griffith

  Language Skills of Children and Youth with Schizophrenia: A Meta-Analysis

  Laura Griffith, Depts. of Psychology, Criminal Justice, & History, with Dr. Jason Chow, VCU School of Education

  Schizophrenia is a severe psychological disorder that remains difficult to understand. Since the presentation of the disorder can vary widely from person to person, there is much debate about the exact nature and cause of the disorder. Some researchers and clinicians prioritize certain symptoms above others, leading to multiple viewpoints on exactly what type of disorder schizophrenia is. In spite of these differences, one commonality among many researchers is the hope to find answers and possibly interventions and treatments by studying the prodromal phase of the disease. Additionally, there has been growing interest in childhood-onset schizophrenia, which does not always receive as much attention as its more common adult-onset counterpart. Cognitive deficits, including problems with language development, appear to be common among youths at clinical high risk (CHR) for or diagnosed with schizophrenia. Thus, the purpose of this meta-analysis was to examine the language skills of children with childhood-onset schizophrenia or children who are CHR. The present systematic review and meta-analysis included quantitative studies that report language skills of either childhood-onset schizophrenia patients or CHR participants under the age of 18. We included studies that reported data from expressive, receptive, and pragmatic language assessments. We excluded studies if the participant samples included individuals with comorbid disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder. We obtained articles from an iterative search process of PubMed, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, and PsycINFO databases. We used random-effects meta-analysis to estimate the average core language scores of early-onset schizophrenia and CHR children and youth. We applied robust-variance estimation to account for within-study dependency. We also explored the extent that child-level factors as well as type of language measure predicted language scores. After a comprehensive and systematic review of the literature, the present study includes data from 23reports. Preliminary analyses suggest that language scores in this sample are significantly lower than typical children. The broader goal of this meta-analysis is to determine the patterns of language development in CHR children and children with schizophrenia, as well as to determine if any language disorders could be predictive of patient prognosis. Identifying risk factors and early warning signs of schizophrenia is crucial to providing the most effective treatment possible. Also, understanding common cognitive symptoms in children who have already been diagnosed can help clinicians to create more tailored treatment plans to alleviate all aspects of the disorder.

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  The Eco-Martyrs of 2018 and Maslow: Is Self-Actualization Only for Colonizers?

  Johanna Guz-Montgomery, Ian McFadden, Victoria Bee, Ashley Sanico, William Purrington, Christopher Latourrette, Rachel Creed, Kelly Rios-Santos, and Alan Lankford

  The Eco-Martyrs of 2018 and Maslow: Is Self-Actualization Only for Colonizers?

  Johanna Guz-Montgomery, Dept. of Psychology, Ian McFadden, Victoria Bee, Ashley Sanico, William Purrington, Christopher Latourrette, Rachel Creed, Kelly Rios-Santos, and Alan Lankford, with Dr. Richard Bargdill, Dept. of Psychology

  Every year the Global Witness organization complies and releases a list of forest, earth, water and animal protectors who have been murdered while defending the earth and people. There have been about 2000 “eco-martyrs” since 2002. Most of these persons are farmers, indigenous people, nature lovers or in other words--ordinary people. In their efforts to stop projects that would lead to further environmental destructive and increased climate change, these persons have stood up to governments, militaries, corporations which have attempted to intimidate them. Most of our ‘eco-martyrs’ had been previously threatened with violence and murder. Many have sought protection from authorities, although almost none have received any and if they did it was clearly ineffective. Our undergraduate research group lead by Dr. Richard Bargdill has constructed short summaries on each of the 2000 names over the last 3 years. We have been humbled by the courage and tenacity of this group of people who in the end represent the best that humanity has to offer. Yet, we noticed that according to our understanding of the Hierarchy of Needs put forth by Maslow that many of these eco-martyrs would not qualify as self-actualized since most live in nations that do not provide the lower needs. Last year we found exemplary cases from our eco-martyrs where from their brief biographies we could be certain that they exhibited at least one of the 16 qualities and did that for 16 cases. At a poster session we were approached by Maslow scholar Andrew Bland and given the suggestion that our understanding of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs was not complete. For this year’s presentation we would like to both address Dr. Bland’s constructive criticism and also share 16 eco-martyrs stories all of which were murdered in the 2018.

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  Pelvic Binding Protocols in EMS

  Tarek Haggy

  Pelvic Binding Protocols in EMS

  Tarek Haggy, Depts. of Science and Chemistry, with Dr. Susan Bodnar-Deren, Dept of Sociology

  Background: Pelvic fractures are typically a result of high energy collisions, such as motor vehicle accidents (MVAs). For this reason, pelvic trauma is usually accompanied by a myriad of other injuries. Due to the potentially fatal nature of the injury, Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers are often the first to administer treatment to patients with suspected pelvic fractures. While difficult to make a proper diagnosis in the field, it is essential to properly stabilize the pelvis whenever a fracture is suspected. Objectives: We suspect that there may be a deficit between regional pelvic immobilization protocols and perceived EMS provider competency in pelvic binding. This study aims to identify if there is an inherent lack of training/emphasis on current prehospital pelvic binding techniques. Methods: A survey will be sent out to prehospital providers in Virginia to gauge perceived competency in pelvic binding and prior training in the technique. Questions will address provider experience, EMS locality, confidence level, and the level of training exposure. Expected Results: We are expecting a lack of emphasis on formal pelvic immobilization training among prehospital providers, especially in EMT-Basics. However, we believe some providers will feel confident in this skill simply due to the deceiving simplicity of pelvic binder application. That said, we expect that EMS providers with extensive experience, training beyond a basic EMT course, or those that practice in more rural localities will have had greater training and exposure to proper pelvic binding technique.

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  Characterizing e-cigarette Use among Virginia Middle and High School Youth Using Confiscated Products

  Sohee Ha, Cindy Miranda, and Alisha Eversole

  Characterizing e-cigarette Use among Virginia Middle and High School Youth Using Confiscated Products

  Sohee Ha, Dept. of Psychology, Cindy Miranda, Dept. of Psychology, & Alisha Eversole, Dept. of Psychology Graduate Student, with Dr. Caroline O. Cobb, Dept. of Psychology

  Introduction: There has been heightened research interest on JUUL use among youth, but less information is available on the use of other electronic cigarette (e-cig) brands, like NJOY or Smok. Other than self-report, methods such as collection of confiscated e-cigs may provide an unbiased estimate of youth e-cig use behavior. This study aims to characterize e-cig use using confiscated products among middle and high school youth to inform prevention and intervention efforts. Methods: Confiscated e-cig products (N=62) were collected from Central Virginia public school districts during September 2019 - December 2019. Products were placed in a ziplock bag with a form completed by school personnel that included date, grade level, and possible side effects. Form details, product characteristics, and presence of tampering were recorded using a standardized instrument and double-data entry method. Data was analyzed using descriptive and bivariate statistics with SPSS V26. Results: E-cig device + liquid reservoir (i.e., a pod) comprised a majority of products confiscated (77.4%) followed by e-cig liquid only (17.7%) and e-cig device only (4.8%). The top two brands were NJOY Ace (40.3%) and JUUL (24.2%). Grades with the most confiscated products were 11th (30.6%), 8th (19.4%), and 9th (17.7%). Suspected tampering was present in about one-third of products. Middle school students (MSS; grades 6-8; n=15) preferred JUUL (n=8, 53%) while high school students (HSS; grades 9-12; n=39) preferred NJOY Ace (n=20, 51%). Blueberry and watermelon twist NJOY Ace flavors were common among HSS. Discussion: Pod mod brands other than JUUL were common among confiscated products. HSS appeared to prefer fruit flavored NJOY Ace pods, while MSS used JUUL (only available in tobacco/menthol flavor during data collection). HSS may prefer NJOY Ace due to available flavors, more mL per pod, and lower cost. Findings emphasize the need for greater restrictions and youth access controls for e-cigs. Current policies for age and pod mod flavors may not be sufficient to deter youth use.

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  Storytelling Through Play

  Allison Heerwagen

  Storytelling Through Play

  Allison Heerwagen, Depts. of Graphic Design and Anthropology, with Dr. Bernard K. Means, Dept. of Anthropology

  As children interpret and build on narratives with their own imagination, storytelling as a cultural practice involves even the youngest of a community. Children raised with folktales, myths, legends, and more can bring the stories to life through play inspired by the characters, setting, and stories shared with them. The most accessible tools for children to share and build stories are toys that can be used to interpret the beliefs, practices, and imagination of their culture. In addition, many children’s toys are objects that serve as a reflection and translation of their culture’s written and oral history. In this way, toys can be intrinsically tied to narratives–fiction or nonfiction, fantasy or rooted in reality–that play out during specific historical events and cultural environments. The way children play, and what they play with, shows how they are able to reinterpret and communicate their everyday experiences. Combined with imaginative creation and fantasy, children contribute to the narrative through their lens.

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  The Benefits of a Daily Personal Growth Practice

  Carolyn Henao and Maria Ribera

  The Benefits of a Daily Personal Growth Practice

  Carolyn Henao, Depts. of Psychology and Spanish, and Maria Ribera, with Dr. Richard Bargdill, Dept. of Psychology

  The aim of this poster will be to describe autoethnographic research evaluating the benefits of a daily personal growth practice. For the past four years Dr. Richard Bargdill has taken a reading from one of the 81 chapters of the Tao de Ching as well as a reading from one of the 64 I-Ching excerpts daily. In addition, he writes his own commentary for each chapter of the Tao and a comparative American idiom for each I-Ching reading. The numbers corresponding to each excerpt pulled have all been recorded in an excel file to be examined for numerical trends. This personal growth research has provided us with both qualitative and quantitative data to analyze for the purpose of sharing the transformational power of daily meditative practice.

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  The Role of Pyrethroids on Cell Cycle Regulation and Craniofacial Development in Xenopus laevis

  Kylee Hockaday and Deborah Howton

  The Role of Pyrethroids on Cell Cycle Regulation and Craniofacial Development in Xenopus laevis

  Kylee Hockaday, Depts. of Biology and Chemistry, with Dr. Amanda Dickinson, Dept. of Biology

  Pyrethroids are synthetic insecticides that are found in many household items such as pet flea medication. Pyrethroids are used more so than organophosphate pesticides due to increasing concerns about non-target effects. However, there is some concern with pyrethroid exposure resulting in teratogenic effects including craniofacial defects. Using a Xenopus model, three pesticides (AMDRO Quick Kill, Pyrethrum, and Cypermethrin) were tested for their effect on craniofacial development. Following AMDRO treatment, embryos developed edemas, abnormal gut development, and shorter distances between eyes. Cypermethrin exposure caused a decrease in face width of embryos. Immunohistochemistry colorimetric staining in AMDRO treated embryos resulted in a significant decrease (p-value = 3.644 x 10-6) in mitotic cells of the face. Preliminary data from acridine orange treatment of embryos exposed to pesticide suggests a link to cell death programs. Delta-delta Ct analysis of p53 expression in embryos treated with AMDRO yielded values of 0.371130893, 0.143587294, and 12.46663327. Expression fold analysis of p53 expression in pyrethrum treated embryos yielded values of 1.310393, 1.347234, 8.282119, and 1.681793. Expression fold analysis of p53 expression in Cypermethrin treated embryos yielded a value of 1.26575659. All treatments yielded an average increase in p53 expression compared to expression levels in control embryos. This indicates that the mechanism through which pyrethroid insecticides work may involve apoptosis and the transcription of the p53 gene.